Well, shit.
HAZE
Parking my car in the no-parking zone in front of the building without a care, I scan the large fluorescent sign reading the club’s name in capital letters. I can’t think straight, blinded by anger. Why did she do this to herself? A million scenarios, each worse than the last, clash in my head. She’s wasted and vulnerable in a place filled with perverts preying on drunk girls. Guilt stabs me.
She’s in there getting drunk because of you.
Pushing people out of my way, I sneak into the nightclub while the bouncer is checking out the tits of a blonde in line. I scan the crowd, searching for her face. I spot her at the bar, talking to some asshole. I immediately recognize her dress. She looks so fucking good, and I hate that I’m not the only one noticing.
My feet lead the way. Next thing I know, I’m standing tall next to them. She fake-laughs at something he said. I know Winter’s laugh, and this one? Complete bullshit. Still, it still ignites a spark of jealousy within me.
“What’s a babe like you doing here alone?”
My fists clench. He’s going to need a face transplant if he calls her that one more time.
“She’s not alone,” I cut in, and she jumps at the sight of me.
“Haze? I told you not to come,” she scolds, almost falling off her stool. I’ve never seen her this drunk.
“Do I look like I care? We’re leaving.” I reach for her arm, but she flings it away from my grasp, her fingers adverting to her drink for another sip. “Give me that.” I swipe the glass from her hand and throw its contents over my shoulder without bothering to check behind me.
A girl shrieks and glances around for someone to blame.
Oops.
“Hey!” Winter’s angry face should probably be threatening, but it only enhances how adorable she is.
The guy interrupts us. “Do you have a problem, man?”
“Yeah, you,” I say blatantly.
“What did you just say?” He gets up from his seat.
“Kyle, don’t.” She steps in between us.
“My name’s Kevin,” the guys says, offended, and I can’t stop a mocking laugh from spilling out of me. She doesn’t spare him a single look.
“I’ll go with you. No need to freak out, Hazie.”
Leading the way to the exit, she squeezes through the crowd, almost tripping over thin air multiple times. By instinct, I wrap my arms around her waist to help her stand. She stiffens up at my touch but doesn’t reject it. Far from it. She leans back into me for support, her shoulders deflating with relief.
Does she miss me as much as I miss her?
If she was sober, she’d have kicked my ass about four times by now. I get her coat at the front, and we walk out of the club. I help her get into the passenger seat of my car, then speed down the frozen roads in complete silence. A soft snow covers my windshield.
“Why did you do this to yourself?” I ask after a while.
“What, you mean have fun? Sorry, didn’t know it was a crime,” she grumbles.
“You don’t have to get wasted to have fun, Winter.”
“Maybe, but I have to get wasted to stop thinking about you.”
My lungs miss a breath.
She said that so casually. Like it wouldn’t wreck the fuck out of me. We come to a red light, and I look her way. I can’t help zooming in on her pouty red lips. Her lipstick makes her mouth look like fucking candy to me.
“Well, here’s a problem. I don’t want you to stop thinking about me.”